Former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune says he is a political prisoner of the current government which he accuses of wishing to destroy Fanmi Lavalas
Port-au-Prince, August 24, 2004 (AHP)- Former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune indicated Tuesday that he considers himself to be a political prisoner of the current government whose members and supporters were actors or accomplices in a modern coup d'Etat which put a constitutionally elected president on notice that he had to either resign or be killed.
In a document that has reached AHP, Yvon Neptune communicated his decision not to collaborate with any hearing based on accusations of a political nature or with political implications or connotations and that is conducted in the spirit of political justice of the moment.
The former Prime Minister, who turned himself in to the police following accusations made by NCHR that he was involved in an alleged massacre at La Scierie, spoke out against the conduct of the interim government which has revealed itself to be actively and viscerally anti-Lavalas in its plans, its rhetoric and its practices.
The former Prime Minister in the government of President Aristide recalled that during more than three years of negotiations aimed at safeguarding the fundamental achievements of Haiti's democracy and assuring progress in the process of change for which the Haitian Constitution is an essential building block, the adversaries of Fanmi Lavalas chose, he said, to reject every political compromise and decided to resort to armed violence to achieve their objective.
According to him, the adversaries of the former government wished to interrupt constitutional government at any price, ruin the process of the institutionalization of democracy, neutralize, sap, and infiltrate with the goal of eliminating Fanmi Lavalas, the majority political organization.
The current government, supported by its partners of all sorts, has committed itself to a campaign of systematic political denigration of the political organization, arrests of its leaders, members and supporters on the basis of simple fallacious allegations coming from political adversaries, he charged.
He added that the enemies of Fanmi Lavalas also engaged in acts of physical and psychological aggression as well as implicit or explicit exclusion of Fanmi Lavalas from all the affairs of the State.
According to Mr. Neptune, one of the most terrifying components of the plans for the killing of democracy by this self-proclaimed techno-democratic government is the fact that it cloaks itself in judicial garb in its attempt to camouflage the infernal machine launched tirelessly, he said, against Fanmi Lavalas.
"The money from truants, smugglers, traffickers and speculators of all sorts, and the political interests of some affluent members of the government have constantly rigged the scales of justice, asserted Yvon Neptune.
The former Prime Minister declared himself ready to contribute freely toward the interests of the Haitian people, who persevere, he said, in their quest for progress and peace, by continuing to devote themselves at great risk and sacrifice to the slow and painstaking process of re-founding Haiti on the basis of justice.
He denounced the de facto government which, in collusion with economic or political actors whose democratic credentials are at the very least dubious, has seized control of the judicial system, which has been in decay for a long time with the objective of bringing about the disappearance of Fanmi Lavalas from the political landscape and guaranteeing the privileged interests for networks of wheeler dealers and political types to the detriment of the life and durable progress of the Haitian nation.
AHP August 24, 2004 12:15 PM
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Further condemnation of the trials of Chamblain and Joanis: Bernard Gousse is on the hot seat
Port-au-Prince, August 24, 2004 (AHP)- The Platform of Haitian Human Rights Organizations (POHDH), expressed disapproval Tuesday of the trial of Louis Jodel Chamblain and Jackson Joanis, accused of involvement in the murder of the businessman and political Antoine Izméry.
In a statement sent to AHP, the POHDH said that this trial was held solely to get rid of the question of the killing of Mr. Izméry while at the same time reassuring certain social groups, particularly the former members of the Haitian armed forces.
These former soldiers provided their support last February to the anti-Aristide GNB movement by launching an armed insurrection that had caused many deaths and the destruction of numerous police stations, State offices and businesses.
POHDH Secretary Eliphètre St-Pierre stated that before even turning themselves in as prisoners the two men in question were assured they would be released.
According to Mr. St-Pierre, the working conditions of the judges and the timetable allowed for the preparation of the case are evidence of the clear determination to make the job of the defense lawyers easier.
He also stressed that the interim government can not guarantee the safety of the witnesses who have been called to appear before the court, because the soldiers have yet to be disarmed, he said.
Well before he turned himself in to justice officials, Louis Jodel Chamblain had met one-on-one with Minister Gousse.
In Mr. St Pierre's view, the justice system once again lost out on an opportunity to earn the confidence of the people.
AHP August 24, 2004 2:30 PM
The GDP reacts again to the promise made by Bernard Gousse to open an investigation into what might have happened at La Scierie
Port-au-Prince, August 24, 2004 (AHP)- The GDP (Group to Defend the Rights of Haitian Political Prisoners) criticized Tuesday statements made by interim Justice Minister Bernard Gousse announcing that an investigation will be opened into the events of Saint-Marc.
A GDP spokesperson, Ronald St Jean, expressed his astonishment at hearing Bernard Gousse announce the opening of an investigation into the case while many noted figures including former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune and ex-Interior Minister Jocelerme Privert continue to languish in prison as they have for months in connection with these allegations.
This decision clearly shows that these individuals were arrested arbitrarily and for purely political reasons, Mr. Saint-Jean observed.
Ronald St Jean said he is taking note of the fact that it was the Minister who announced that he will open an investigation into this case, while it is more properly up to the investigating judge to issue such an announcement.
According to the GDP spokesperson, the situation that prevailed at La Scierie last February was purely and simply a clash between rival groups.
NCHR had claimed that 50 people were killed in what it labeled the La Scierie Massacre, while journalists and members of international human rights organizations who traveled to the scene affirmed that they had not found any evidence of a massacre.
AHP August 24, 2004 3:25 PM
The Chamblain/Joanis case: CONAP affirms that the country will not accept the shameful trial of August 16
Port-au-Prince, August 24, 2004 (AHP)- The National Women's Rights Advocacy Coordination (CONAP) denounced Tuesday the latest verdict issued in the case of Louis Jodel Chamblain and Jackson Joanis, who had previously been convicted in absentia for their alleged involvement in the killing of businessman Antoine Izméry.
Speaking on behalf of CONAP, Olga Benoît characterized the two men as notorious criminals, authors of numerous barbaric acts committed during the period of the 1991 coup d'Etat. She found it indecent that the February 29 government would reach appoint where it proclaims the innocence of these individuals.
The Haitian judicial system has once again cast shame upon itself by trying to absolve Louis Jodel Chamblain and Jackson Joanis.
"These men are murders. And the public outcry has never stopped decrying their wickedness and the sexual abuses they inflicted, particularly upon women during the period of the 1991 coup d'Etat, said an indignant Mr. Benoît.
Their acquittal in the case of the murder of Mr. Izméry amounts to a slap in the face of women and contempt for the Haitian people in general.
Another CONAP official, Myriam Merlet, declared that the manner in which the trial unfolded shows clearly that impunity is alive and well under the interim government.
Mme. Merlet said that the country will not accept ** the verdict reached by the interim authorities in favor of Louis Jodel Chamblain and Jackson Joanis.
Several other members of CONAP denounced what they see as the ongoing complicity between the Minister of Justice and Louis Jodel Chamblain with regard to the "phony trial of August 16".
AHP August 24, 2004 1:50 PM
The women of MOFAVAH and members of Fanmi Lavalas hold another sit-in calling for the release of all political prisoners
Port-au-Prince, August 24, 2004 (AHP)- More than one hundred supporters of Fanmi Lavalas and Women of MOFAVAH held a new sit-in Tuesday outside the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince calling for the release of all political prisoners held by the Latortue government.
The demonstrators criticized the cynicism of the February 29 authorities who persecute their political adversaries while they seek to release dangerous criminals.
The participants in the sit-in said that despite the abuses suffered at the hands of the interim government, they are determined to go all the way in their mobilization to obtain satisfaction of their demands.
The supporters of Fanmi Lavalas also announced plans to hold a demonstration on August 31 to call for the release of the political prisoners and an end to the persecution of Fanmi Lavalas officials and members.
Claudy Sidney, a spokesperson for the Lavalas activists, said that the upcoming demonstration will also be an opportunity for them to demand the physical return of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, synonymous, he said, with the liberation of the country.
AHP August 24, 2004 1:20 PM
GDP writes to the director general of Radio Métropole seeking the right of response to a broadcast seen as defamatory toward senior officials of the Aristide government
Port-au-Prince, August 24, 2004 (AHP)- The GDP (Group to Defend the Rights of Political Prisoners in Haiti) indicated that they have asked Richard Widmaier, the President and Managing Director of Radio Métropole, who is also President of the ANMH (National Association of Haitian Media) for the right to respond to serious charges made during the broadcast of the program called "Métropolis"against high-level officials of the government that was overthrown on February 29.
"We believe that the segment entitled "Requiem for la Scierie", which was broadcast on April 17, 18 and 21 and re-broadcast on July 10, 11 and 14 raises serious issues, asserts the letter signed by 20 individuals and addressed to Mr. Widmaier. The signatories Pastor Séméreste Bolière, Pastor Normil Dorvila, agronomist Jean-Paul Duperval, Mme. Yvon Neptune, Mme Jocelerme Privert and Mme Jacques Mathelier.
The signatories of the letter charge that former Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, former Interior Minister Jocelerme Privert, former Deputy Amanus Mayette and the leaders of the organization Bale Wouze suffered serious slander through this broadcast without any of them having the possibility of speaking up in their own defense.
In this letter they also express concerns about "the reasons that led the person responsible for the program to broadcast such a vile report as well as "the refusal to grant the right of reply" to "the accused and the victims of NCHR".
In seeking the right of reply, the writers of the letter pointed out that the host for this show relied exclusively on people who are hostile toward the people accused by NCHR to unleash a volley of slanderous remarks which no listener would be in a position to verify to what extent any of the charges are true.
" At no time during the broadcast were the persons who were accused by NCHR before being illegally thrown into prison called upon to present their own version of the facts, contrary to the most elementary principles of professional journalism and current laws" alleged the signatories of the letter to Mr. Widmaier.
This attitude corroborates the remarks made by the OAS Deputy Secretary General Luigi Einaudi, who stated recently that the Haitian press, rather like what is happening in Venezuela, has converted itself into an instrument of the opposition, the letter-writers added.
Considering the great harm caused to those accused by the radio broadcast of "Requiem for la Scierie", the signatories of the letter are asking for a show of the same duration that would allow them to present their version of the facts so as to enlighten listeners of the radio station that broadcast the show that is seen as defamatory.
AHP August 24, 2004 12:40 PM
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The threat of a boycott of the opening of classes in the North of the country
Port-au-Prince, August 24, 2004 (AHP)- FAENNE, the Federation of Associations of Teachers in the North and Northeast, denounced what they labeled as disloyal behavior Tuesday by Departmental Directors toward teachers in these regions.
In an open letter to the interim Minister for Education, Pierre Buteau, the letter's author, FAENNE's Secretary General Jacques Belzin, said that all teachers who do not share the opinions of these Departmental Directors are on a list of teachers slated for dismissal or transfer.
According to Jacques Belzin, all questions relating to teaching have been assigned to people who have nothing to do with that field, particularly the representative of the opposition in the North, Mr. Elusca Charles.
Jacques Belzin also denounced the irregularities observed during the examinations for the Baccalaureat and as well as the ninth year of basic education in the North.
The region's Departmental Directors have openly engaged, he said, in selling examinations and hired unqualified individuals to supervise the exams.
M. Belzin threatened to boycott the opening of classes in these regions if nothing is done to normalize the situation and prevent the Departmental Directors from implementing their plan to fire or transfer teachers.
AHP August 24, 2004 11:35 AM
The Education Minister continues to face a strike by examination graders
Port-au-Prince, August 24, 2004 (AHP)- The interim Minister for National Education, Pierre Buteau, on Tuesday urged examination graders, who have been on strike for more than a week, to go back to work.
Pierre Buteau accused the graders of failing to honor their commitments and insisted that all appropriate steps will be taken to complete the process of producing the official results of the examinations.
Pierre Buteau called the striking exam graders crooks and ruffians who refuse to break with the practices of the past.
For his part, Josué Mérilien, coordinator of UNNOH, the National Union of Haitian Teachers-in-Training, indicated that the exam graders intend to go all the way to obtain satisfaction of their demands
Josué Mérilien accused Pierre Buteau of wasting public funds in the way he manages the State examinations.
The teachers organizations involved in the strike by the graders had actively participated in the anti-Aristide GNB campaign that had shut down classes during January and February.
The Minister of Education, who had been part of the Group of 184, also took part in this GNB movement.
AHP August 24, 2004 10:30 AM
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